Williams Pérez

Pérez signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent on May 22, 2009.^[1][2] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Braves, posting a 2.35 ERA in 17 games. In 2010, Pérez pitched for the rookie-level GCL Braves, registering an 0-6 record and 5.63 ERA in 12 games, 11 of them starts. The following season, Pérez split the year between the GCL Braves and the rookie-level Danville Braves, accumulating a 4-0 record and 2.75 ERA in 13 appearances. In 2012, Pérez returned to Danville, where he posted a 4-3 record and 4.15 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. The next year, he split the season between the Single-A Rome Braves and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, pitching to a cumulative 11-6 record and 3.53 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 125.0 innings pitched. He spent the entire 2014 season with the Double-A Mississippi Braves, recording a 7-6 record and 2.91 ERA in 26 appearances.^[3]

The Braves added Pérez to the team's 40-man roster on November 19, 2014.^[4] He was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves to begin the 2015 season. Pérez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on May 6, 2015.^[5] Pérez debuted two days later, yielding two walks, two hits and four runs, while recording one out against the Washington Nationals.^[6] He was then added to the starting rotation and made his first start, a no decision against the Tampa Bay Rays, on May 20, 2015.^[7] Pérez made a total of 14 starts in his rookie season. In his first eight starts, he recorded a 2.27 ERA, then was placed on the disabled list in July with a bruised left foot. Upon his return to the active roster, Pérez made six more starts, in which his ERA was 9.87, before being demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on August 29.^[8]

Pérez opened the 2016 season in the Braves starting rotation and made three appearances before he was optioned to Gwinnett on April 20.^[9] He was recalled on May 11, and earned the win in that night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.^[10] While facing the San Diego Padres on June 6, Pérez pitched five innings and left the game with an injury. Two days later, he was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain and was placed on the disabled list.^[11] He was reactivated on September 6 to start against the Washington Nationals.^[12] After losing to the Nationals, Pérez was removed from his next start against the New York Mets in the midst of the third inning.^[13] He finished the year with a 2-3 record and 6.04 ERA in 11 games. On December 8, 2016, Pérez was released by the Braves.^[14]

On February 4, 2017, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.^[15] He spent the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, pitching to a 7-10 record and 5.01 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 120.1 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.^[16] On November 20, Pérez re-signed with the Cubs on a new a minor league contract and received an invitation to spring training.^[17] On February 18, 2018, the Cubs released Pérez.^[18]

On April 9, 2018, Pérez signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League.^[19] Pérez made two appearances for the Miners in 2018, and pitched to a 1.64 ERA, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 10 in 11.0 innings of work.

On June 5, 2018, Pérez signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners organization.^[20] He spent the year split between the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, registering an 8-2 record and 2.47 ERA in 17 games between the two teams. Pérez elected free agency following the season on November 2.^[21]

On November 12, 2018, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.^[22] He split the 2019 season between the rookie-level GCL Cardinals, the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals, and the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, accumulating a 6-3 record and 5.02 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 75.1 innings between the three levels. Pérez elected free agency after the season on November 4, 2019.^[23]

On May 20, 2021, Pérez signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.^[24] In 7 appearances with Tijuana, Pérez recorded a 2-1 record and 6.75 ERA. On July 4, 2021, Pérez was traded to the Diablos Rojos del México.^[24] He made just one start for the club, giving up 5 hits and 1 earned run in 4 innings. On July 19, 2021, Pérez was traded to the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.^[25] He was released on November 23, 2021. On May 5, 2022, Pérez signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos.^[26] He became a free agent following the 2022 season. On January 4, 2023, Perez signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo.^[27] However, he was released on February 25, 2023, prior to the start of the 2023 season.^[28]

Pérez primarily throws three pitches: a sinker, curveball, and changeup. All three offerings have a tendency to sink. Despite this, during his first season, Pérez gave up more fly balls on the latter two pitches than other pitchers did.^[29] During his minor league career, however, Pérez was known as a ground ball pitcher.^[30] Perez has continued to be a ground-ball pitcher at the major-league level, posting a ground-ball rate of 50.9% in 2015,^[31] compared to a league-average rate of 45.3%.^[32]

On February 9, 2018, Pérez was arrested in Venezuela after he shot and killed Cesar Quintero, his 52-year old coach. The shooting was accidental and police ruled out foul play.^[33][34]

• List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela

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• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)